Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, May 18, 1973
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, May 18, 1973
Master 10361 Part 1 Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee Hearings on Presidential Campaign Activities, May 18, 1973 Caucus Room, Russell Senate Office Building, Washington DC
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, May 18, 1973
Do Not Use Narration. Image of page of Senate Resolution creating Select Committee to investigate Watergate affair. Voiceover by Robert MacNeil describes resolution, camera zooms to first paragraph of resolution
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, May 18, 1973
DO NOT USE Fade in of Capitol Dome image, announcer introduces program, introduces Sr. correspondent Robert MacNeill as camera pulls back from the Capitol image to show MacNeill/Jim Lehrer seated at two desks flanking image, pans to show MacNeill and image. MacNeill introduces the testimony of James McCord, a watergate burglar, that he refused to participate in the coverup, feeling that his own trial was not going to be fair.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, May 18, 1973
James McCord, surrounded by reporters, saying he wanted to help himself to a fair trial by testifying for the senate committee, though he might not have otherwise testified as he did.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, May 18, 1973
DO NOT USE Robert MacNeill, closeup head/shoulder shot, large blowup of photo of ext. of Watergate bldg behind. MacNeill continues to summarize days hearings, McCord's motivations, inferences that high gov't lawyers supported breakin, up to Attorney General Mitchell, and that McCord had received information of a secret nature from the Justice Department. MacNeill quotes Senator Weicker of CT as being disturbed by the information being given to Nixon campaign officials. [screen over MacNeill's shoulder shows photo of Weicker]
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, May 18, 1973
DO NOT USE Robert MacNeill signs over to Jim Lehrer, cut to head/shoulder shot of Lehrer seated at desk, with photo blowup of White House directly behind his head. Lehrer elaborates on McCord's testimony about pressure from a Mr. John Caulfield on McCord to remain silent at trial to protect higher officials. Lehrer describes Caulfield as a Treasury Department official, but also as a former Police intelligence officer, Nixon campaigner in '68, and an aide to Atty. General Mitchell in the Committee to Re-Elect. Pan to center of set, zoom in on large screen between Robert MacNeill's and Lehrer's desks, showing B/W photo of John Caulfield, not a flattering one, makes him look very mean. MacNeill compares the day's testimony to spy novel episodes, secret meetings, payphones, spying, expenditures for bugging equipment, emphasizing the blase quality of McCord's narrative about these sensational subjects. Lehrer reminds that there are many facts still to be discovered, and that in the days testimony, much of McCord's testimony was noted by the Senate committee as HEARSAY, which is not legally proof of either Nixon's or the Attorney General's involvement. Introduces Georgetown Univ. Law prof. William Greenhall and author Alan Barth as consultants to NPACT on the legalities of the testimony.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, May 18, 1973
DO NOT USE Cuts to Mr. Greenhall against blue backdrop. Lehrer asks Greenhall if McCord's testimony could lead to more legal actions. Greenhall notes that the allegations are new against high-ranking persons, and that the extent of pressure to keep quiet put on McCord is a new revelation, which could constitute bribery and negate the previous trial.
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, May 18, 1973
DO NOT USE Leher asks Barth to comment on McCord's image as a witness. Barth compares McCord's testimony to Alger Hiss's during McCarthy era spying hearings in congress. Says the gravity of McCord's allegations and that they concern the President is very significant. Robert MacNeill h/sh shot under Watergate bldg. blowup. Introduces David Wise, an expert on surveillance and spying as a later guest of the program, lays out a timetable for the days hearing:
Watergate Hearings: Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, May 18, 1973
Do Not Use Narration. MacNeill's voiceover continues, The floor of hearing room, to show Sen. ERVIN in a milling crowd. Hour 1, DC policeman Carl Shoffler to describe arrest of burglars, McCord's first statements vis a vis sanctioning of burglary and surveillance operation by high officials; hour 2, McCord testifies about pressure on McCord to keep silent about the conspiracy at trial; hour 3/4, McCord's testimony about the bugging operations. Senator Sam Ervin to a long view of committee table as the crowd begins to settle into their places. Sen. Ervin walking past Fred Thompson to his seat, sitting, preparing to gavel hearing to order. Ervin bangs the gavel several times to cut through apparently noisy room.